Brussels – Cooperation with Morocco is essential in the efforts towards the efficient management of fish stocks, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, said on Thursday.
The EU Comissioner said she was glad with the resumption of negotiations between Morocco and the European Union to establish a new fisheries agreement protocol.
“Together with Morocco, we have committed to conclude a renewed partnership that is in line with the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and its external dimension,” said the EU Commissioner in a press release.
This renewed partnership will ensure maximum benefit to both Morocco and the European Union, she added.
The EU Commissioner paid an exploratory visit to Morocco last April to launch the process of negotiations for a new EU-Morocco fisheries agreement protocol. During the visit, she met with Minister-Delegate for Foreign Affairs, Youssef Amrani, and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch.
In December 2011, the European Parliament decided not to renew the fisheries protocol. The previous agreement granted 119 fishing licences to EU vessels, mostly Spanish.
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